Let’s face it, life gets busy. Back to School means extra activities, meetings, sports and the list goes on... With so many busy nights we are left with little time to prepare meals. Before we know it, we find ourselves eating out or in the drive thru more often than we are willing to tweet about.
What’s a family to do? This week we are sharing our best tips & ideas to simplify your weeknight meals.
Here are a few back to basic ideas to get things started.
Get everyone involved. No, you do not have to share actual kitchen space with the whole crew at the same time. However, talk with everyone in your family that likes to eat. Seriously, let them know that you need their help with dinners & want to work with them to find tasks they can participate in. Next, time to brainstorm favorite meals.
Master Menu of 20. List 20 things your family likes to eat & that you will agree to call dinner. (yes, breakfast for dinner counts as many days as you wish).
Use this master menu to brainstorm your menu stretchers. Menu stretchers are a different approach to a meal that will use up leftovers without seeming like a total repeat of the same meal. This can be an oddly fun challenge.
Tips:
Plan out Meals- ALL OF THEM, even snacks. This may seem time consuming & trivial, but knowing what’s for breakfast, lunch & dinner is half the battle. Commit to planning meals with as much detail as you can.
Shop 2 times a week.This may seem counterintuitive, but often a quick trip to see us mid week gives you a chance to pick up fresh produce that can be easily prepared as a side dish or quick addition to a meal.
Batch tasks for food prep whenever you can. Need chopped white onion for 3 meals this week? Chop it all at once, and save time the next day.
Double up recipes. Freeze the double for next month. Making a giant batch of homemade chicken noodle soup might seem like a lot of work now, but just think about how happy you will be to pull out the double during another busy night. When you shop for favorite meals, buy enough to double.
Are you grilling? Browning ground beef? Always prepare enough chicken/ground beef/pork etc for two meals. Tortilla Wraps, Panini's etc are a fabulous way to use up extra seasoned meat. If you are making Tacos, make enough to set it aside for a Taco Soup.
Think outside the box- It’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Stop by our seafood counter for easy meals. Did you know we can boil & flavor your shrimp while you shop?
- Weeknight meals in our deli. When it's time for a break or beautiful weather calls for an improptu picnic- we've got you covered. More info on our daily deli meals here including our new carnitas meal on Wednesday.
How do you make dinners easy for your busy life? Share your smart idea with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Follow us on Pinterest for all the good stuff.
